US PRESIDENT George Bush got a wake-up call on behalf of York's youth as city councillors urged him to support the Kyoto Treaty.
Labour councillor Ruth Potter won the support of City of York Council in a motion calling on him to sign the environmental protocol - which he has so far refused to do.
She said: "What legacy are we going to leave our children and grandchildren if we do not address the problems of global warming now?
"We in York know the economic cost of flooding caused by a changing climate, as well as the distress caused to affected residents."
Her call was followed swiftly by support for a year-long project to make York the most energy efficient city in the UK.
Organisations involved include the Evening Press, the council, the Energy Saving Trust and the York Energy Efficiency Advice Centre. They aim to make the city a world leader in tackling climate change.
Council leader Rod Hills said: "I think we would all welcome this."
Updated: 11:16 Thursday, July 26, 2001
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